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Courtesy of arena, a SwimSwam partner.
Portland, Oregon, August 25, 2026 – arena’s international team of elite athletes turned in one of their strongest team performances of the year at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships, combining for 51 medals, 33 individual medals and a share of every world record broken across the four-day meet in Irvine, California (August 12–15).
Kate Douglass provided the headline moment, breaking the world record in the women’s 50-freestyle twice in a single day – first in the morning heats at 23.49, then again in the evening final with an unbelievable 23.19 for gold – a time previously thought untouchable for female sprinters. Both swims came in arena’s newest elite race suit, Powerskin Veloce, powered by Hyperforce Technology. Douglass went on to accumulate six total medals at the meet, four gold and two silver, every one of them in the Powerskin Veloce.
Gretchen Walsh was the meet’s most decorated swimmer overall, taking home seven medals – five gold, two silver – and had entered the meet already holding the women’s 50 free world record, set just weeks earlier (23.55), before Douglass moved it twice more. Walsh and Douglass teamed up to break a third world record together, in the mixed 4×100 medley relay, both racing in Powerskin Veloce. Following these outstanding individual and relay performances, both Walsh and Douglass were awarded meet MVP honors by USA Swimming.
Canadian superstar swimmer Summer McIntosh also visited the podium in the Powerskin Veloce, medaling in three of her individual events on her way to four total medals on the week, while Alex Walsh secured an individual bronze in her flagship event, the 200 IM.
arena’s overall brand presence at the championships was even more apparent in the water than it was on the podium, with 53% of all medalists racing in arena’s elite swim cap technology – more than all other brands combined in the event.
“What stands out about this performance is not just the number of medals, but the breadth of what our athletes accomplished across countries, events and disciplines. Kate, Gretchen, Summer and the entire arena team continue to push the limits of what’s possible in the water and seeing Powerskin Veloce play a role in every world record broken at Pan Pacs is an incredible validation of the work our athletes and product teams have done together,” said Mark Pinger, Chief Brand Officer for arena. “This is exactly what arena is about – combining world-class athletes with relentless innovation to help redefine performance at the highest level.”
In all, 22 arena athletes reached the podium at Pan Pacs, representing seven nations – 2 more than any other brand – including the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa.
The Powerskin Veloce, arena’s flagship racing suit built on the brand’s Hyperforce technology that boasts an extraordinary blend of compression, lightness and flexibility, was the suit behind every world record broken at Pan Pacs – and it’s not an isolated result. Also showing off her speed in Veloce was University of Virginia’s Sara Curtis, swimming for her home country of Italy at the 2026 European Championships running in parallel with Pan Pacs. Curtis added a pair of records herself in Paris – setting the new mark for the 50m back with a 26.63 in semifinals and a blistering 26.56 for Gold in finals. The Powerskin Veloce has now been worn in 8 of 9 world-record-breaking swims by women in 2026 (with the 9th featuring the arena Powerskin Primo), a pattern that’s put the suit at the center of the conversation heading into the countdown to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The 2026 Pan Pacific Championships served as a key benchmark ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, with arena’s roster – including Douglass, Walsh, and McIntosh, expected to be central figures on the road to LA28.
KEY ARENA HIGHLIGHTS – 2026 Pan Pacific Championships
Team Results
51 combined medals – 20 gold, 17 silver, 14 bronze 33 individual medals won by arena athletes 22 athletes on the podium, representing 7 nations 3 world records broken at meet 7 men’s individual gold medals across arena’s roster – the most of any swim brandAthlete Spotlights
Gretchen Walsh (USA): 7 medals – 5 gold, 2 silver – the meet’s most decorated arena athlete Kate Douglass (USA): 6 medals – 4 gold, 2 silver – all in Powerskin Veloce race suit, including two world records in the women’s 50 free. Summer McIntosh (CAN): 4 medals – 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze – all in Powerskin Veloce race suit. Alex Walsh (USA): 1 medal, individualProduct Technology:
Powerskin Veloce: worn in both individual and 1 relay World Record broken at 2026 Pan Pacific Championships, and 8 of 9 Women’s World Record’s broken worldwide in 2026. Powerskin Primo: 9 individual medals from athletes around the world – second only to Veloce for arena. 53% of all medalists racing in arena’s elite swim cap technology – more than all other brands combined in the eventAbout arena
arena has revolutionized the world of aquatic sport through insightful collaboration with world class athletes and the development of cutting-edge competitive swimwear since 1973. Today, this spirit of collaboration and innovation lives on through a continuous evolution of advanced materials and Italian design that improves the performance, style and expression of all those who chose arena. From leading the lanes to living in style, arena is dedicated to providing all swimmers with the tools they need to express themselves, feel confident, win and achieve more.
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